Doug Smith represents clients on regulatory matters before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Department of Energy (DOE). He also provides counsel on climate change, energy technology, and renewable energy policy.
As General Counsel of the FERC from 1997 to 2001, Doug played a lead role in Commission policy initiatives on electricity, natural gas rates, pipeline certificates, and hydropower licensing reform. As Deputy General Counsel for Energy Policy at DOE, he played significant roles in Departmental initiatives on electricity restructuring, the Climate Challenge program, and new energy efficiency standards.
Doug speaks frequently at conferences on energy regulatory issues. Doug has also been on the adjunct faculty at the George Washington University Law School, where he most recently taught a class on Energy and the Environment.
Doug is the coordinator of Van Ness Feldman's electric practice and serves as a member of the firm's Executive Committee.
Yale Law School
J.D., 1986
Editor-In-Chief, Yale Journal on Regulation
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
S.B., 1981
"Best Lawyers in America" by Best Lawyers
Energy Law, 2013-2018
Chambers Global
Electricity, 2009-2018
Chambers USA
Energy: Electricity (Regulatory and Litigation), 2005-2019
Legal 500 - Recommended Attorney
Energy Regulation - Conventional Power, 2019
American Bar Association
D.C. Bar Association
Energy Bar Association
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
General Counsel, 1997-2001
U.S. Department of Energy
Deputy General Counsel for Energy Policy, 1995-1997
Associate General Counsel for Energy Policy, 1995
Assistant General Counsel for Legal Policy and Analysis, 1994-1995
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Judge Walter K. Stapleton, 1986-1987